Two honorary degrees conferred
By Theo Wolski
Lance Writer
October 21, 2009
 The graduates of this weekend’s University of Windsor convocation ceremony were addressed by two very important members of Canadian foreign affairs.
Craig Kielburger, founder of the Free the Children organization, received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the University and spoke at the 10 a.m. ceremony.
Derek H. Burney, meanwhile, former ambassador to the U.S. from 1989-1993 received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the 4 p.m. proceedings.
Kielburger created his organization in 1995 from his classroom in Thornhill, Ontario with the aim of freeing children across the globe from poverty and exploitation and empowering youth with the knowledge that they are not powerless to effect change in the world.
Lori Lewis, a spokesperson for the university, identified Kielburger as an ideal example of the morals that UWindsor wishes to promote.
“He is a perfect example of the values we would like to promote about social justice and social change” said Lewis.
Free the Children is currently one of the largest and most effective international development enterprises in the world.
More than a million youths are involved in the educational initiatives of the organization, which span across 45 countries.
Kielburger, along with his youth volunteers and employees, has built more than 5,000 schools and educated more than 50,000 children in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
His programs allow the youth of the world to educate and enrich other youth everywhere.
He has received the Order of Canada, the Nelson Mandela Human Rights Award, the Governor General’s Medal of Meritorious Service, the Top 20 Under 20 Award, the Roosevelt Freedom Medal, the State of the World Forum Award, and the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child.
Kielburger holds a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Toronto, an MBA from the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA program, and a number of honorary doctorates for his work in the field of education and human rights.
Derek H. Burney educated students attending the afternoon proceedings with his knowledge of a 30 year service in the Canadian Foreign Service and a vast amount of experience in politics and business.
Burney is currently senior strategic advisor to Ogilvy Renault LLP, chair of the board of Canwest Global Communications Corporation, and visiting professor and senior distinguished fellow at Carleton University.
From October 2007 to February 2008, Burney served on the independent panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan, and was appointed Chair of the Selection Committee for the Canada Excellence Research Chairs program.
Burney played an invaluable role in many political decisions and declarations, including serving as the chief of staff to the prime minister, playing an integral role in the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, and is a senior research fellow at the Canadian Defense and Foreign Affairs Institute.
Lewis noted the practical important of honorary degrees, as they allow students to hear from people who have been truly successful in their respective fields.
“Honorary degrees give the university an opportunity to open our institution to a broad range of people and give our students the chance to be influenced by outsides sources who have made a real mark in their fields,” said Lewis.
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